An encore for hard work - Apple Awards

    There's events like the Oscars, the Emmys, the Grammys all dedicated to celebrating performers' accomplishments with star studded red carpets and televised performances. Now for north central Washington high school performers, there's the Apple Awards on June 5 at 7 p.m.
    For the first year, the Numerica Performing Arts Center is hosting the Apple Awards to recognize students and programs that deserve an encore along with one student receiving the Numerica Theatre Scholarship. Cashmere High School has ten different nominations for the upcoming award ceremony.
    "I think it's a nice acknowledgement of all of the hard work the kids have put in," said Susan Gubsch, Cashmere High School drama teacher and director of 'Play On!' and 'Legally Blonde'. "Now that these awards are trying to start up as a valley wide one, it gives more kids more recognition."
    Legally Blonde The Musical was a performance that got a lot of attention, both as a whole and individually in the cast. Hope Erdmann, Brianna Hughes, Rhawnie Jones and the entire ensemble cast were nominated due to their performances in the comical musical. Unsurprisingly after titters and laughter erupted during the majority of the musical, Legally Blonde was also nominated for Outstanding Overall Musical.
    As for the play 'Play on!', several students gained recognition for their parts in that performance. Faith Kruse, Sam Wilson, Gabby Kennedy, Hadleigh Murphy and Issac Peyton were all nominated along with the play being up for the Outstanding Overall Play.
    "It felt really great (for all of the students and performances to be selected) and was a surprise," said Gubsch. "I felt a lot of pride."  
    Volunteer judges, that were selected based on performing arts expertise, measured the performances and performers based on criteria focusing on the unique and creative elements intertwined in the shows.
    "It's nice that there have been judicators that have volunteered to go to all the shows and give feedback to the kids. Not only do they get recognized, but get feedback from the judicators which then helps us improve our program," said Gubsch.
    The award ceremony goes beyond recognizing outstanding performances within the valley, but also to use the program as a channel to promote the performing arts in the valley.
    “A theatre awards program is something a lot of people have wanted to do over the years, so we’re very excited to be able to finally get it off the ground,” said a statement from Alex Haley, Numerica PAC's program manager in a press release. “It’s something we’ve never done before which has presented a unique challenge, but we’re eager to learn, adapt, and grow the Apple Awards for years to come.”
    The Apple Awards are a reflection of the hard work it takes to be center stage in front of peers, memorize lines on top of memorizing notes for tests and being able to make the character on the script three dimensional on stage.
    "There's going to be entertainment from some of the shows, so they'll get to see some of the shows. (The community should go) just to support the youth and their pursuit in the arts," said Gubsch.
    Tickets for the program are $10 for adults and discounted at $7 for students.